How—and why—to fill up a surgical pathology requisition form

• Published in: Journal of clinical pathology Vol. 77; no. 11; pp. 790 - 791
• Main Author: Pai, Sanjay A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Association of Clinical Pathologists 07.03.2024; BMJ Publishing Group LTD
• Subjects: Biopsy; Celiac disease; Chemotherapy; CLINICAL AUDIT; Dermatitis; Diabetes; Epidemiology; Histology; Histopathology; Image-Guided Biopsy; Laboratories; Letter; Liver diseases; Medical records; Pathology; Radiation; India; CLINICAL AUDIT; Histology; Image-Guided Biopsy
• ISSN: 0021-9746; 1472-4146; 1472-4146
• DOI: 10.1136/jcp-2024-209477

Underfixed or overfixed tissues lead to erroneous results and can be disastrous for patient care.4 The clinical diagnosis or differential diagnosis is essential as it often acts as a starting point during the evaluation of the section. Radiation and chemotherapy are associated with lesions which are benign, but histologically mimic cancer.12 That the patient with a colonic resection also has multiple skin lesions (or a history of endometrial carcinoma) may notify the pathologist to the possibility of Muir-Torre syndrome (or Lynch syndrome), with consequent advice for screening of family members.13 Unexpected laboratory values and important data such as immunodeficiency need to be transmitted appropriately (keeping local laws and ethical issues in mind). [...]publishing this in a journal which is read exclusively by pathologists is not the best way to get the message across, so do send this article—or box 1—across to clinicians! Box 1 Data needed on a histopathology requisition form Patient demographics: name, age, gender Site of biopsy/surgical procedure Date and time Clinical diagnosis/differential diagnosis History of major illness Previous surgery/chemotherapy/radiation Specific laboratory or imaging data Any specific query or instructions for the pathologist Any unusual or noteworthy piece of patient clinical data, or a common facet which may be relevant in this specific patient Medication history (if relevant) Physician name I thank Dr Chitra Madiwale, for helpful comments on the manuscript.